tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15137796122794728872018-03-07T10:30:29.505-08:00Christian Lasses & Their BooksBook Reviews by Women of Faith | Est. 2016Liv K. Fishernoreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513779612279472887.post-86455813804888059652017-09-30T08:54:00.002-07:002017-09-30T08:54:31.132-07:00CLOAKED by Rachel Kovaciny | A Captivating, Old West Retelling of LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A0-B-DmWT3c/Wc7MLQh-t1I/AAAAAAAAJ5g/b8513vRT-_AchZyF8Nu0tbo_CWzPO0JZwCLcBGAs/s1600/CLOAKED%2Bby%2BRachel%2BKovaciny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="297" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A0-B-DmWT3c/Wc7MLQh-t1I/AAAAAAAAJ5g/b8513vRT-_AchZyF8Nu0tbo_CWzPO0JZwCLcBGAs/s640/CLOAKED%2Bby%2BRachel%2BKovaciny.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">{<a href="http://haydenwand.blogspot.com/2017/09/cloaked-cover-reveal.html" target="_blank">Source</a>.}</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">★★★★★</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>A story of love. A story of fear. A story of hope. A story of courage.</b></div><br />Have you ever read a book that makes you crave an adventure? Perhaps a story that sparks a desire for travel, or independence? A story that simply sweeps you off your feet, whisking you away and inspiring that sense of wanderlust? For me, that story was&nbsp;<i>Cloaked,&nbsp;</i>by Rachel Kovaciny.<br /><br />Mary Rose arrives in Wyoming with few expectations; all she knows is that she's to meet her grandmother, an estranged -- and possibly wealthy -- member of the family. But when a striking accountant enters the scene, Mary Rose realizes that her newfound adventure was merely a mirage... and she might just need to flee for her life.<br /><br />Oh, this book was wonderful! Like the sunrise on a chilly spring morning, this book held such a glow of warm familiarity. The writing style was direct and to-the-point, but also maintained a bit of elegance. The characters were all so real: Mary Rose with her curiosity, Jubilee and Hauer with their friendship and laughter, Mr. Linden with his charms...<br /><br /><i>Cloaked</i>&nbsp;was so amazing! I highly recommend it, and I would read it again in a heartbeat. ❤<br /><br /><b>You may want to know:&nbsp;</b>There are some implications, including brief and un-descriptive "touching" and a forced kiss. There is some mild violence, as well as a very light romance.<br /><br />NOTE: I received a free ebook copy of&nbsp;<i>Cloaked</i>&nbsp;from the author, in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.<br /><br />~Liv<br /><a href="http://livkfisher.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">livkfisher.blogspot.com</a>Liv K. Fisherhttps://plus.google.com/110233574162634768686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513779612279472887.post-78323191066696332062017-05-02T14:32:00.001-07:002017-05-02T14:33:05.692-07:00THE SOUND OF DIAMONDS by Rachelle Rea Cobb | A Stunning Rogue Romance & Redemption Story<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AvKQayuDznM/WPrlOiOL4zI/AAAAAAAAI0w/2fiwoSoU21ET4hVGfcGoeCvIqgCSvD9vQCLcB/s1600/THE%2BSOUND%2BOF%2BDIAMONDS%2Bby%2BRachelle%2BRea%2BCobb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AvKQayuDznM/WPrlOiOL4zI/AAAAAAAAI0w/2fiwoSoU21ET4hVGfcGoeCvIqgCSvD9vQCLcB/s640/THE%2BSOUND%2BOF%2BDIAMONDS%2Bby%2BRachelle%2BRea%2BCobb.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">{<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24348955-the-sound-of-diamonds" target="_blank">Source</a>.}</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">★★★★☆</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>(4.5 stars)</b></div><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>Nay. Hatred would not bar my heart against pain. Hatred would only bar my heart against healing, redemption, love.</i>&nbsp;~Rachelle Rea Cobb, <i>The Sound of Diamonds</i></blockquote><br />I love a good rogue romance. Unfortunately, most of those romances I hold so dear rarely come true, so to put it (*coughs* I'm looking at you, Guy and Marian). But this... My dear friends, this was <i>so </i>good.<br /><br />Gwyneth Barrington is on the path to becoming a nun. Living in a convent in Leiden, the Netherlands, she suffers from the memory of her parents' murders, and their promise for her happy future.<br /><br />And then the assumed murder shows up, claiming that Leiden's convent is under attack, and he wishes to bring Gwyn to safety.<br /><br />If only it were that simple.<br /><br />I've been interested in <i>The Sound of Diamonds</i>&nbsp;for a while, now. That gorgeous title, that intriguing cover... As Prince Edward from Disney's&nbsp;<i>Enchanted</i>&nbsp;would say, what's not to like? So when a review opportunity came up, I pounced. 😉<br /><br />The first chapter begins with action and adventure. Gwyneth, a young, headstrong noblewoman. Dirk Godfrey, a redeemed rogue with a scandalous past. Two of Dirks closest friends, a strict nun, and a sweet postulant.<br /><br /><b>The characters --</b>&nbsp;One of my biggest pet peeves in religious romance novels (and probably the main reason I don't read more romance, period) is the helpless (and very beautiful) Mary Sue and the slightly flawed (yet still very handsome) Gary Stu. I love how Rachelle took these stereotypical characters and tossed them out the window. 😄<br /><br />We have a feisty daughter of nobility (with glasses! *cheers*), a God-pursuing son of a lord and lady, and a cast full of fun characters.<br /><br />My only complaints in regards to the cast were Cade and Ian, both of whom seemed very similar (though the latter got much less "screen time"); and the villain, who, though his reasons seemed comprehensible enough, felt like he needed a little more motivation.<br /><b><br /></b><b>The romance -- </b>I'll start by saying that the side-romance (between a certain friend and postulant *winks*) was super sweet. There was what was possibly an implication of sorts later on in their relationship that seemed a bit out of place, but it was left open to interpretation.<br /><br />But the main romance. Our hero and our heroine. (*smiles*) Even though I know the answers, I'm still tempted to scream at them, "What took you so long?!" ♥<br /><b><br /></b><b>The writing -- </b>I've yet to experience a novel so wonderfully historically accurate, yet so well written at the same time. Never in my life have I heard of the Dutch Revolution, but Rachelle brought it to life in wonderful ways, with her little phrases in late-Renaissance Dutch and Spanish.<br /><b><br /></b><b>The setting -- </b>I'm not big on description; in fact, if there's more than one sentence of description in a book, that's the part I usually skip. However, I did feel as if this area could've done with a tad more development.<br /><b><br /></b><b>The plot -- </b>Fantasy lovers, take your favourite fantasy quest -- journeys across seas, through forests, to castles, you name it... Now apply it to a historical romance, with an emotional murder mystery along the way. (*nods*) Remarkable, isn't it?<br /><br />So, yes, my dear friend -- go read <i>The Sound of Diamonds!</i>&nbsp;Even if you're not big on historical romance, go do it. You won't regret it. ☺<br /><b><br /></b><b>You may want to know: </b>There is violence (murder included) and kissing, as well as a few slight implications.<br /><br />NOTE: I received a free ebook copy of <i>The Sound of Diamonds</i>&nbsp;from the author, in exchange for my honest review.<br /><br />~Liv<br /><a href="http://livkfisher.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">livkfisher.blogspot.com</a>Liv K. Fisherhttps://plus.google.com/110233574162634768686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513779612279472887.post-17159090576203907922017-03-18T17:25:00.004-07:002017-03-18T17:25:46.028-07:00ENJOY THE POODLE SKIRT by Kate Willis | A Delightful Little Short Story<div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u_qF9gQMNDc/WM3PbtywJUI/AAAAAAAAIkQ/HxvsdbfSufgFcmOKho3eOCno-_R2pgXygCLcB/s1600/ENJOY%2BTHE%2BPOODLE%2BSKIRT%2Bby%2BKate%2BWillis.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u_qF9gQMNDc/WM3PbtywJUI/AAAAAAAAIkQ/HxvsdbfSufgFcmOKho3eOCno-_R2pgXygCLcB/s640/ENJOY%2BTHE%2BPOODLE%2BSKIRT%2Bby%2BKate%2BWillis.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12px;">{<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Enjoy-Poodle-Skirt-Kate-Willis-ebook/dp/B06XKYVJ7G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1489882922&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=enjoy+the+poodle+skirt+kate+willis" target="_blank">Source</a>.}</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: x-large;">★★★★☆</span></div><br />Kate Willis's middle-grade short story,&nbsp;<i>Enjoy the Poodle Skirt,</i>&nbsp;is the tale of Canary and her siblings, who have gone to spend the week working at their newlywed aunt's vintage diner. But when an oddly titled map finds its way into Canary's hands, she is determined to find its owner... and solve the mystery that is at large.<br /><br />My, what a fun, fast-paced, delightful little tale this was! It brought me back to summers in which my bestie and I would go to my grandfather's house and ride quads, practice archery, go jar "fishing," and, of course, eat ice cream! (Now I want to write a short story of my own... and wear a poodle skirt!) Four stars!<br /><br /><b>You may want to know:</b>&nbsp;This book was completely clean, and seemed void of anything questionable. :)<br /><br />~Liv<br /><a href="http://oliviakfisher.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">oliviakfisher.blogspot.com</a>Liv K. Fisherhttps://plus.google.com/110233574162634768686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513779612279472887.post-12385557666479464302017-03-15T14:11:00.001-07:002017-03-15T14:11:08.431-07:00FOR ELISE by Hayden Wand | A Delightfully Light-Hearted "Spook" Novella<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Po_Ap_QGBPk/WKiApE7wB_I/AAAAAAAAIZ0/G5NT8PWXlmwQGNh6AF_msOvsrlLT12a6ACLcB/s1600/FOR%2BELISE%2Bby%2BHayden%2BWand.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Po_Ap_QGBPk/WKiApE7wB_I/AAAAAAAAIZ0/G5NT8PWXlmwQGNh6AF_msOvsrlLT12a6ACLcB/s640/FOR%2BELISE%2Bby%2BHayden%2BWand.png" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12px;">{<a href="http://haydenwand.blogspot.com/p/my-books.html" target="_blank">Source</a>.}</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">★★★★★</span><br /><b>(4.5 stars)</b></div><br />When the narrator of&nbsp;<i>For Elise</i>&nbsp;buys a supposedly haunted mansion, he is disappointed to find it, well, lacking... at least in the sense of inspiration for his novel. But the tides turn when an invisible, Frank-Sinatra-loving grammar Nazi finds a red editor's pen and takes to revising and commenting on his work.<br /><br />I&nbsp;<i>adore</i>&nbsp;Hayden Wand's books, and&nbsp;<i>For Elise</i>&nbsp;was certainly no exception! With a rich, classic prose, Hayden delivers a fun and light-hearted novella on relationships of all sorts. The characters were positively delightful, each with their own little quirks. Though I was unsure where the plot was headed, at first, the characters soon took me by the hand and pulled me into a mysterious, boundless world of friendship, love, romance, and redemption. Go and read&nbsp;<i>For Elise</i>&nbsp;-- you won't regret it!<br /><br /><b>You may want to know:&nbsp;</b>There is some reference to drinking (and, possibly, getting drunk).<br /><br />~Liv<br /><a href="http://oliviakfisher.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">oliviakfisher.blogspot.com</a>Liv K. Fisherhttps://plus.google.com/110233574162634768686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513779612279472887.post-87337162986036404242017-01-28T08:33:00.001-08:002017-01-28T08:33:48.145-08:00Once Upon a Summer, by Janette Oke<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2GwodlA7lpY/WIzFg02YQpI/AAAAAAAAAGU/wCPDm2xz1hwtI3QrNCKKXkPrNGv5Wv7PACLcB/s1600/iu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2GwodlA7lpY/WIzFg02YQpI/AAAAAAAAAGU/wCPDm2xz1hwtI3QrNCKKXkPrNGv5Wv7PACLcB/s320/iu.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><i><br /></i><i>From the Back Cover:</i><br /><b>Sure it's unusual to have a 18 year old mother when you're twelve. But when you're an orphan and she's your aunt- and the only mother you've ever had- well, as I explained, it had worked out real well.</b><br /><br />Where do I even start with this book... It was one of the first books by Janette Oke I had ever read, and I was skeptical at first. I mean, there can't be many books from a twelve year old boy's viewpoint, right? But I totally changed my mind after reading it. I could hardly wait to read the other three books! But, before I start on them, let me get back to the book I'm supposed to be talking about.<br />Joshua Jones is a typical twelve year old. He has friends, gets into trouble with these friends, does his chores and suffers through his grandfather insisting he goes to church each Sunday. When his grandfather and great uncle decide its time to start surveying prospects for his pretty aunt before she chooses a husband for herself, Josh's world is pretty much torn apart. The thought of his aunt leaving the family isn't welcome, especially since she's been his mother and best friend since he lost his own parents.<br />This book made me cry and, more often than not, laugh. When a spry great-grandfather shows up and teams with Josh to ruin his grandfather and great-uncle's plans, you can expect a lot of comical moments! The story does have it's touching moments; like I said, I cried. Auntie Lou's attempts to help Josh remove his bitterness towards God over losing his parents, and feeling the hurt that Josh feels when he loses his brand new puppy... be ready with some tissues. <br />And the ending- well, I won't give it away, but if you're like me, you won't stop grinning for days. I've read this book probably a hundred times, and I still can't stop smiling when I get to the end. I definitely give this book five stars, and highly recommend if you like it, read the next three books in the series that go through the rest of Joshua Jones' life!<br /><br />Melissa Hhttps://plus.google.com/111791188191526512125noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513779612279472887.post-55549113827195510532017-01-22T14:30:00.003-08:002017-01-22T14:33:22.969-08:00PRIDE & PREJUDICE by Jane Austen | A Regency Tale of True Love & Social Standards<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vn8_EJsa7hU/WHlD4uk-8AI/AAAAAAAAH6c/z2r2KI5AvvUQ2sV3HRwgZm0blxPpnMvoQCLcB/s1600/PRIDE%2B%2526%2BPREJUDICE%2Bby%2BJane%2BAusten%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vn8_EJsa7hU/WHlD4uk-8AI/AAAAAAAAH6c/z2r2KI5AvvUQ2sV3HRwgZm0blxPpnMvoQCLcB/s640/PRIDE%2B%2526%2BPREJUDICE%2Bby%2BJane%2BAusten%2B2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">{<a href="http://merikthorne.blogspot.com/2017/01/pride-prejudice-by-jane-austen-regency.html" target="_blank">Source</a>.}</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">★★★☆☆</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>(3-4 stars)</b></div><b><u><i><br /></i></u></b>The BBC miniseries remain, to this day, some of my favourite Jane Austen adaptions. Thus I was rather saddened when I first cracked open&nbsp;<i>Emma</i>&nbsp;to find it not at all to my liking, and soon after began&nbsp;<i>Pride &amp; Prejudice</i>&nbsp;to find it much better, but still with its dull bits.<br /><br />For those of you who are unacquainted with&nbsp;<i>Pride &amp; Prejudice,&nbsp;</i>it follows a year in the life of Elizabeth Bennet, a young woman of marriageable age who hails from a very poor (and rather silly) family. Determined to marry a man who is both sensible and wealthy, she finds herself turning down proposal after proposal from unwelcome suitors... but very soon learns a lesson in love and understanding.<br /><br />I had hoped to fall head-over-heels-in-love with this book... But alas, it was not meant to be.<br /><br />Austen's prose was witty and poetic, but not quite to my liking. I found myself lost at times between the pools of words and stray commas.<br /><br />The love story and the characters, however, surely made for a legend.&nbsp;<i>Pride &amp; Prejudice</i>&nbsp;certainly has the structure of a classic, with all its silly, wonderful, and romantic parts. Mr. Darcy (though the portrayal of his character at the beginning did him no justice) was such a gentleman, and Elizabeth was absolutely perfect for him.<br /><br />For those who enjoy classics, I would recommend this. For those who do not... Well, I'd still recommend it, even if just for the sake of reading it. 😉<br /><br /><b>You may want to know:</b>&nbsp;There is very mild kissing, as well as a few stray swear words and uses of God's name in vain. There are also some implications that hint at indecency between an unmarried couple.<br /><br />~Liv<br /><a href="http://oliviakfisher.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">oliviakfisher.blogspot.com</a>Liv K. Fisherhttps://plus.google.com/110233574162634768686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513779612279472887.post-1027725391134406312016-12-21T16:06:00.004-08:002017-01-22T14:31:56.630-08:00BAMBI by Felix Salten | The Tale of a Young Forest Prince<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W4jyiQe47PY/WFsHNmN-xrI/AAAAAAAAHbw/sYouuYbuvzIYgXhSVhgFAEH7OSjz8a8-ACLcB/s1600/BAMBI%2Bby%2BFelix%2BSalten.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W4jyiQe47PY/WFsHNmN-xrI/AAAAAAAAHbw/sYouuYbuvzIYgXhSVhgFAEH7OSjz8a8-ACLcB/s400/BAMBI%2Bby%2BFelix%2BSalten.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">{<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bambi-Janet-Schulman/dp/1883332826" target="_blank">Source</a>.}</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">★★★★★</span></div><br />I'm quite the fan of Walt Disney's interpretation of&nbsp;<i>Bambi,</i>&nbsp;but was rather hesitant to hear the original tale, due to the many mentionings of its harshness towards the practice of hunting. Yet I was surprised to find that it was not a disappointment!<br /><br />Felix Salten's&nbsp;<i>Bambi</i>&nbsp;is the tale of a young stag and the future prince of the forest. Hidden deep in the woods with his mother, he watches as his animal friends grow and explore. All the while, an unknown danger stalks their forest...<br /><br />I personally do not believe that killing wild animals for survival is wrong. However, I do agree with the book's point that killing off does and fawns disrupts the deer population more than the killing of stags.<br /><br />As to the book rather than the theme, itself: Though I listened to the audiobook instead of reading the actual story, the writing still came across as direct and only slightly descriptive, but still elegant with that old-fashioned flair.<br /><br />The plot didn't seem to be entirely there; however, Bambi and his family were interesting enough to let the story flow along on their own.<br /><br />In the end,&nbsp;<i>Bambi</i>&nbsp;made for a charming (if sad) little story. I wouldn't recommend it to children or tweens, -- mainly because of how it portrays mankind as evil -- but it is a somewhat peaceful tale.<br /><br /><b>You may want to know:</b>&nbsp;Several characters are killed.<br /><br />~Liv<br /><a href="http://oliviakfisher.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">oliviakfisher.blogspot.com</a>Liv K. Fisherhttps://plus.google.com/110233574162634768686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513779612279472887.post-28096461554678103842016-12-05T11:25:00.000-08:002017-01-22T14:32:53.338-08:00The ONCE Anthology | A Unique Collection of Fairytales<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6-rsUde6-Io/WBeYIUgsSvI/AAAAAAAAG5w/z9dMgVEciVokpjGBH03uZky2f4RHK7gqwCLcB/s1600/OnceCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6-rsUde6-Io/WBeYIUgsSvI/AAAAAAAAG5w/z9dMgVEciVokpjGBH03uZky2f4RHK7gqwCLcB/s640/OnceCover.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">{<a href="http://www.vintagenovels.com/2016/10/announcing-once-six-historically.html" target="_blank">Source</a>.}</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-large;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-large;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-large;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-large;">★☆</span></div><i><br /></i><i>(Note: I received&nbsp;a free copy of&nbsp;</i>Once&nbsp;<i>in exchange for my honest review.)</i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>The Mountain of the Wolf&nbsp;</i>by Elisabeth Grace Foley</b></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">★☆☆☆☆</span></div><i><br /></i>Elisabeth's story,&nbsp;<i>The Mountain of the Wolf,&nbsp;</i>is a&nbsp;<i>Little Red Riding Hood</i>&nbsp;retelling set in the old west, following the mysterious history behind a lonely young woman named Rosa Jean.<br /><i><br /></i>I hate giving any book a one-star review, particularly the first in a collection. Though the writing style was good, it was a little too descriptive for my taste, and I just didn't love it. I also wasn't particularly fond of the plot, or of any of the characters. Sadly, this was a did-not-finish, for me. ☹<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>She But Sleepeth&nbsp;</i>by Rachel Heffington</b></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">★★</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">☆</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">☆☆</span></div><br />Rachel's&nbsp;<i>Sleeping Beauty</i>&nbsp;retelling begins in modern LA, following the determination of a young set designer and her handsome intern as they venture to Romania to study the complex history of Peles Castle.<br /><br />I must say, though Rachel's writing style is as rich as fudge, there were a few aspects of the story that bothered me.<br /><br />For one, the amount of sorcery. Though magical content doesn't typically bother me, the way that it was presented made it seem more realistic than fictitious, and it just didn't sit well with me.<br /><br />Secondly, the swearing and use of God's name in vain. Though&nbsp;<i>She But Sleepeth</i>&nbsp;was not drenched in such words and phrases, the amount used -- by a Christian author -- did not seem appropriate.<br /><br />The beginning was a bit slow and the ending rather sudden. I also wasn't a huge fan of the romance, and didn't really connect much with any of the characters.<br /><br />One of the things I&nbsp;<i>did</i>&nbsp;like about the book was the concept... which I would go on about (as well as Queen Elisabeth, because I would've loved to have seen her story expanded more), but... spoilers. 😉<br /><br /><b>You may want to know:</b>&nbsp;There was violence, swearing, and the usage of God's name in vain, as well as rather strong magical elements.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Rumpled&nbsp;</i>by J. Grace Pennington</b></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-large;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-large;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-large;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-large;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-large;">★</span></div><b><br /></b>Wow. Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow. (*whispers*) That was amazing.<br /><br />J. Grace's&nbsp;<i>Rumpled</i>&nbsp;is a retelling of&nbsp;<i>Rumpelstiltskin&nbsp;</i>(or&nbsp;<i>The Miller's Daughter,&nbsp;</i>if you'd rather), little tributes to&nbsp;<i>Cinderella&nbsp;</i>and&nbsp;<i>Beauty &amp; the Beast</i>&nbsp;weaved in. It follows the adventure of Amanda, a young woman whose father is determined to secure her future, from the point when a governor -- looking to hire a scientist who can build high-functioning artificial intelligence -- stops at their mill.<br /><br /><i>Rumpled</i>&nbsp;was wonderful -- intriguing, clever, and unique.<br /><br />In some ways, it seemed to nod it's head to Marissa Meyer's&nbsp;<i>Cinder</i>, but...&nbsp;<i>I think this is so much better.</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>Rumpled</i>&nbsp;was a bit like several of my favourite TV shows had a meeting and decided to turn themselves into one single book: There were elements of&nbsp;<i>Once Upon a Time, Poldark,</i>&nbsp;and even&nbsp;<i>Downton Abbey</i>; yet&nbsp;<i>Rumpled&nbsp;</i>remained a story all its own.<br /><br />The writing was outstanding. J. Grace's voice is musical and refined, with just the right amount of description.<br /><br />When it came to the characters-- Oh, the characters! They were so real, so alive, so&nbsp;<i>human.</i>&nbsp;The protagonist was very relatable, and what a bundle of fun she was!<br /><br />The plot was incredible. I'm not a huge fan of&nbsp;<i>Rumpelstiltskin,</i>&nbsp;but J. Grace won me over completely with-- Well, I'm not going to say what. You'll have to find out for yourself. 😉 I highly doubt you'll regret it. 😊<br /><br />And the romance was awesome-sauce! (*squeals*) It did seem a little unrealistic towards the very end, it was still splendid the rest of the way through, and oh-so-sweet.<br /><br />The steampunk setting threw me off a little bit at first, but by the second or third chapter I was obsessed. The elements were handled very well, and I thought it very interesting how the early days of the US were recreated!<br /><br />Overall, it was wonderful (and I've managed to start repeating myself, now 😜 ). So yes. Just yes.<br /><br /><b>You may want to know:</b>&nbsp;There was mild kissing, very minor implications, and the use of the "d-word" once.<br /><b><br /></b><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Sweet Remembrance</i>&nbsp;by Emily Ann Putzke</b></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-large;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-large;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-large;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-large;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-large;">★</span></div><b><br /></b>Oh my stars... Where to begin?<br /><br />Emily's retelling of&nbsp;<i>The Little Match Girl</i>&nbsp;takes place on the streets of Poland during World War II, where a twenty-one-year-old woman struggles to survive.<br /><br />I'm not even sure how to write this review; there hardly seem adjectives great enough to describe it.<br /><br />First off: This book captured my heart from the first page. Emily is an<i>&nbsp;amazing</i>&nbsp;writer. She described everything perfectly, so well that I felt the emptiness, the silence, and the love drifting through the pages; so well that I felt I was&nbsp;<i>there.</i><br /><br />Secondly: The plot. Wow-sers.&nbsp;<i>Sweet Remembrance</i>&nbsp;was the perfect length, and the romance was absolutely wonderful. And oh, how it tugged at my heartstrings!<br /><br />Thirdly: The characters. Each character was so unique, so individual, yet meshed together so expertly with the others. It was outstanding.<br /><br /><b>You may want to know:</b>&nbsp;There was violence and the one-time usage of the "ba-word."<br /><b><br /></b><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Death Be Not Proud</i>&nbsp;by Suzannah Rowntree</b></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">★☆</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">☆☆☆</span></div><b><br /></b>Suzannah's&nbsp;<i>Snow White&nbsp;</i>retelling,&nbsp;<i>Death Be Not Proud,</i>&nbsp;is set in 1920s New Zealand, and is the story of a young woman with a strange connection to another girl... but what if the other girl was dead?<br /><br />I really wanted to like this story, but I wasn't a huge fan of the setting, the characters, or the plot, though the writing style was good. Sadly, I'd have to say that this is another did-not-finish. ☹<br /><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>With Blossoms Gold&nbsp;</i>by Hayden Wand</b></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">★★★★☆</span></div><b><br /></b>Hayden's story is set in renaissance Italy, a&nbsp;<i>Rapunzel</i>&nbsp;retelling of a young maiden locked in a tower, and a prince who just wants to find and rescue a damsel in distress.<br /><br />I love Hayden's writing voice; it's so very clear yet so very elegant. In&nbsp;<i>With Blossoms Gold,</i>&nbsp;she delivers a story that's true to the original fairytale, but wanders off just enough.<br /><br /><i>With Blossoms Gold</i>&nbsp;was witty but sweet. The characters were sensible but still a little headstrong, and I loved the quips and good-natured arguments that went on between the two protagonists.<br /><br />The plot seemed ever so slightly slow at first, but soon sped up, putting an intriguing new spin on the&nbsp;<i>Rapunzel</i>&nbsp;story.<br /><br /><b>You may want to know:&nbsp;</b>There is violence and warfare. A family is falsely accused of witchcraft, and there is the implied unfaithfulness of a character's betrothed.<br /><div><br /></div><div>~Liv</div><div><a href="http://oliviakfisher.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">oliviakfisher.blogspot.com</a></div>Liv K. Fisherhttps://plus.google.com/110233574162634768686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513779612279472887.post-42246157745554878972016-11-29T07:11:00.001-08:002016-11-29T07:11:19.951-08:00Roses For Mama- Janette Oke| A Western Romance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ioVYU1oSthc/WD2YG4JkS0I/AAAAAAAAAD4/PbLAlfR6bpI8NuX83bJgsbwjhhF_uQzWwCLcB/s1600/iu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ioVYU1oSthc/WD2YG4JkS0I/AAAAAAAAAD4/PbLAlfR6bpI8NuX83bJgsbwjhhF_uQzWwCLcB/s320/iu.jpg" width="206" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">★★★★★</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(5 stars)</div><div>"For Angela, now seventeen, and her older brother Thomas, the profound events that reshaped their family also changed their lives. Angela does her best to care for the children, but still wonders if she is providing everything they need- like her mother did."</div><div><br /></div><div>This is one of my favorite books, because I can relate to the feelings the main character has, because (though I haven't lost my mother)&nbsp;I have many younger siblings myself. With three younger siblings, Angela was left with the responsibility of taking care of a farm house and a family after the death of her parents along side her older brother. While as the reader I can see the good job she's doing, I couldn't help but feel the stress and pain she had to carry as she tries to be a mom to her younger siblings, tries to encourage old family friends, and deals with her somewhat annoying friend Trudie. With two young men&nbsp;vying for&nbsp;Angela's attention, while she tries to balance her own life and the care of her siblings, this book kept me up late to finish it!</div><div>It's completely clean, and like all Janette Oke books, very faith based. I won't give away the ending, but be prepared to be surprised! And make sure you keep the tissues close by during the entire read, because you're really going to need them....</div><div><br /></div><div>-Missy</div><br />Melissa Hhttps://plus.google.com/111791188191526512125noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513779612279472887.post-17536405781584833402016-11-25T00:01:00.000-08:002016-11-25T00:01:01.920-08:00THE LOST GIRL OF ASTOR STREET by Stephanie Morrill | A Brilliant, 1920s Romantic Mystery<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; padding: 6px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oMB57RfGmUA/WAVYUCDXovI/AAAAAAAAGq0/zOpZ2uMRytcN4yOg1qJ3pI4m2Tg8YHPpwCLcB/s1600/THE%2BLOST%2BGIRL%2BOF%2BASTOR%2BSTREET%2BStephanie%2BMorrill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oMB57RfGmUA/WAVYUCDXovI/AAAAAAAAGq0/zOpZ2uMRytcN4yOg1qJ3pI4m2Tg8YHPpwCLcB/s640/THE%2BLOST%2BGIRL%2BOF%2BASTOR%2BSTREET%2BStephanie%2BMorrill.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="422" /></a></div></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin: 0px;">{<a href="http://www.stephaniemorrill.com/lostgirl/" target="_blank">Source</a>.}</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">★★★★</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">★</span><br /><b>(4.5 stars)</b></div><div><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(Note: I read </i>The Lost Girl of Astor Street <i>prior to its official release; it is set to release in February 2017.)</i></span></div><div><br />Piper's best friend is missing, and has left the police clueless as they scour Chicago. Piper will not rest until she finds answers, and yet when she sticks her nose into dark alleyways, hidden buildings, and the mafia itself, it seems that she's only asking for trouble -- and she may find more answers than she bargained for...<br /><br />Okay. Wow. Give me a moment to catch my breath.<br /><br /><i>The Lost Girl of Astor Street&nbsp;</i>was amazing. It was riveting; the plot, characters, and writing style all meshed together so brilliantly, it was like magic. It seemed evident that Stephanie did her research, because the 1920s seemed so alive and pulsing, as if they had a heartbeat.<br /><br />I do admit that it took me a chapter or two to get into it, seeing as it took that long for the heroine to grow and the story to progress. But it was so worth it.<br /><br />And haven't I mentioned the romance? (*cues the fangirling*) (*pauses*) THE ROMANCE WAS SO INCREDIBLE. I CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO DESCRIBE THE COUNTLESS NUMBER OF TIMES I NEARLY SCREAMED/CRIED WITH JOY. (*squeals*) (*jumps up and down like a little girl*) (*straightens bowtie*)<br /><br />Stephanie tied up all the loose ends perfectly, and I firmly believe that not a strand was out of place. So I definitely recommend it -- it is&nbsp;<i>SO</i>&nbsp;worth the read. :)<br /><br /><b>You may want to know:</b>&nbsp;There were light implications of indecent acts against characters, as well as murder, violence, and some drinking.<br /><br />~Liv<br /><a href="http://oliviakfisher.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">oliviakfisher.blogspot.com</a></div></div>Liv K. Fisherhttps://plus.google.com/110233574162634768686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513779612279472887.post-21683618840526526732016-11-25T00:00:00.000-08:002016-11-25T00:00:11.798-08:00Congratulations to...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Melissa</span><br /><br /><a href="http://thesherwoodstoryteller.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Jemma</span></a><br /><br /></div>Jemma and Melissa will be joining me in blogging here at <i>Christian Lasses &amp; Their Books.&nbsp;</i>There are currently no plans for any of us to maintain an exact blogging schedule, and there may be times when we review the same books, in order to express more varying opinions.<br /><br />You can find out more on what we think makes a book clean on <a href="http://christianlassesandtheirbooks.blogspot.com/p/the-christian-lasses.html" target="_blank">this page</a>, as well as the genres we enjoy reading on <a href="http://christianlassesandtheirbooks.blogspot.com/p/the-lassies-favourite-genres.html" target="_blank">this one</a>. And you can find us on Facebook at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Christian-Lasses-Their-Books-122664068200884/" target="_blank">this link</a>.<br /><br />So welcome to the team, Jemma and Melissa! I've sent you each an email. I'm very much looking forward to blogging with you two!<br /><br />~Liv<br /><a href="http://oliviakfisher.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">oliviakfisher.blogspot.com</a></div>Liv K. Fisherhttps://plus.google.com/110233574162634768686noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513779612279472887.post-73665136923558341952016-09-29T16:34:00.001-07:002016-11-25T15:15:22.643-08:00Volunteer Reviewers Wanted!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I'm looking for female Christian book reviewers to be volunteer bloggers on this site!<br /><br />The bloggers selected are expected to:<br /><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Be kind.</li><li>Review only clean books (books do not necessarily have to be marketed/labeled as Christian/religious to apply).</li><li>Use proper punctuation, spelling, and attribution.</li><li>Use language suitable to all ages (for example, no swearing or "mild cussing").</li><li>Post the cover image (and give credit to its source) prior to the written review.</li><li>Have a "you may want to know" section at the end of each review, in which there is a list of the book's aspects that may disagree with some readers (for example, kissing, fantasy violence, magical content, etc.).</li></ul><br />Bloggers are <i>not</i>&nbsp;expected to maintain a regular blogging schedule<i>.</i><br /><br />Please fill out the form below to apply; entries submitted through other means will not be recorded. Lord willing, the bloggers chosen will be announced in November 2016.<br /><br /><iframe frameborder="0" height="500" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeFjjNnbM0WHPeg782L9UOfTCcrOjw_4IIdD0_nXxLzqRRwlg/viewform?embedded=true" width="700">Loading...</iframe> <br /><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>May the odds be ever in your favor!</i> ~Effie Trinket (<i>The Hunger Games</i>&nbsp;by Suzanne Collins)</blockquote><br />❤<br /><br />~Liv<br /><a href="http://oliviakfisher.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">oliviakfisher.blogspot.com</a></div>Liv K. Fisherhttps://plus.google.com/110233574162634768686noreply@blogger.com0